Substitute Senate Bill No. 1497, also known as Public Act No. 25-152, amends various agricultural laws in Connecticut, focusing on the establishment of a State Veterinarian within the Department of Agriculture and modifications to the registration process for fertilizers and soil amendments. The bill sets a maximum registration fee of seventy-five dollars and allows distributors to forgo registering products already registered by others if the labels are consistent. It also repeals previous provisions regarding dog licensing costs, mandating towns to cover actual incurred costs. Additionally, the bill introduces a tax credit for eligible farmers, effective January 1, 2026, allowing them to claim a 20% credit against certain state taxes for qualifying farm investment properties, with specific definitions and stipulations outlined.

Further amendments include changes to property tax exemptions for farm machinery, increasing the assessed value limit from one hundred to two hundred fifty thousand dollars, and granting municipalities the authority to provide additional exemptions. The bill also updates regulations for pesticide application, allowing the use of unmanned aircraft under specific conditions, and establishes a Farmers' Crop Loss Reimbursement Grant Program for those affected by severe weather. It modifies shellfish harvesting regulations, including confidentiality of tag identification information and licensing processes, while enhancing the Commissioner's authority to manage shellfish resources. Lastly, the bill bans the sale and use of fertilizers containing PFAS, aiming to improve agricultural practices and environmental protection.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 22-111c, 22-111bb
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute: 22-111c, 22-111bb
File No. 671: 22-111c, 22-111bb
APP Joint Favorable: 22-111c, 22-111bb
FIN Joint Favorable: 22-111c, 22-111bb
JUD Joint Favorable: 22-111c, 22-111bb
Public Act No. 25-152: 22-111c, 22-111bb, 12-91, 26-192k, 26-212, 26-213, 26-232, 26-207, 26-209, 26-215, 26-192l